Liverpool have had a mixed start to their 2016-2017 Premier League campaign. They started off with a brilliant 4-3 win against Arsenal at the Emirates stadium but then suffered a demoralising 2-0 defeat against Burnley. They then travelled to the White Hart Lane but could only come away with a 1-1 draw. Jurgen Klopp brought in a host of players to strengthen his squad, which will automatically lead to increased competition in the team. However, one position that he didn’t need to buy new players for was the striking department. There is already a healthy competition between Roberto Firmino, Divock Origi, Daniel Sturridge and Danny Ings.
It is very surprising to see Sturridge out of the starting XI, in favour of Origi and Firmino. The English international is one of the most lethal strikers in the league and would get into the starting XI of most teams in the top division. The 27-year-old is one of the most experienced strikers in the Premier Leauge, having played at Manchester City and Chelsea before, he has the necessary knowledge which makes him a potent weapon, His goalscoring quality is also very expressive, given he has scored 43 goals in 71 games for Liverpool in his career. Sturridge has a rate of one goal every two games, a phenomenal rate for the league of this difficulty.
The fact that Klopp hasn’t given up on Sturridge this summer, shows that he still trusts him. Liverpool are yet to play a game at Anfield, due to the construction of a new stand. They have played two tough away games against Arsenal and Tottenham, where Klopp needed his team to work together rather than focus on the man up top. Firmino’s unselfish work on and off the ball was exactly what Klopp loves, and this is something the English international can’t offer after he has lost some of his pace following a string of injuries.
There is no doubting that Sturridge will play a big part in Liverpool’s season once he returns from this international break. Against weaker options, Klopp will need a forward, who can play off the back of defenders and make runs forward clearing space for the midfielders. Sturridge will be perfect playing as the target man against stern defences.
Klopp has been criticised also slightly due to his ignorance in choosing Sturridge in the starting XI but one might give the manager some more time before concluding on anything. Origi is currently being preferred over Sturridge but the Belgian man can’t offer the same the same threat in the box that Sturridge can. Klopp will definitely keep the England forward in his mind while making further plans for the season.
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